Justice & Policy Studies

The Department of Justice and Policy Studies offers two majors: community and justice studies and criminal justice. The community and justice studies major focuses on policies and strategies of public service organizations. Taking an applied interdisciplinary approach, the department works with other departments and many community groups, to emphasize understanding public service organizations, problem-solving, values in public policies, civic activism and strategies for changing organizations. Graduates of the community and justice studies major have pursed graduate study and careers in urban affairs, public administration, law and related vocations. Graduates also have undertaken careers in community organizing and in nonprofit community service organizations focusing on mediation and conflict resolution, spouse and child abuse and similar issues. Many students look forward to civic activism, influencing policy in their communities and supporting their communities through service.

The criminal justice major focuses on policies, history and problems of the American criminal justice system. Graduates of the major may choose to pursue graduate study or careers in law, urban studies, public administration, law enforcement, courts, corrections or juvenile justice. Nonprofit community service organizations focusing on mediation, conflict resolution and spouse and child abuse are other options. Many students look forward to involving themselves in policy-making or careers in related criminal justice fields.

DEGREES OFFERED

The Bachelor of Science degree in community and justice studies and in criminal justice.

Justice & Policy Studies Minors

This new field of study and practice arises from a pervasive sense of disconnection and isolation that has become widespread in American culture. Focusing on building community, the field understands our society’s institutions as on a path of systematically undermining respectful and authentic relatedness among citizens. It also sees this path as the source of many growing pathologies, including individual and systematic prejudice and discrimination and many forms of violence.

Currently, the need for community-building has begun to gain the attention and imagination of many inside and outside the academy. As new disciplines emerge and diverse technological and other forms of expertise expand, we are becoming aware that we still lack the ability to build sustainable systems that enable our endeavors to thrive.

The minor in community studies is not available to community and justice studies majors.

This minor provides non-majors an opportunity to pursue an interest in criminal justice. It introduces students to the major problems of instituting legal control over criminal behavior and the complexity of making legal decisions in a moral context. It enables students to develop an appreciation of the social scientific method and to communicate their experience with criminal justice effectively in writing.

The minor in criminal justice is not available to criminal justice majors. Students majoring in community justice may not use their major coursework toward the criminal justice minor.

In addition to the course work, students will be required to write a five- to 10-page paper bringing together their diverse experiences in the minor. This minor summary must be submitted to the Department of Justice and Policy Studies during the semester in which a student completes her or his final course for the minor. JPS faculty will grade the minor summary CR/NC: CR is necessary for successful completion of the minor.

In an increasingly complex and socially diverse world, individuals need to be able to communicate effectively and to develop and maintain strong personal relationships with people close to them and from very different backgrounds. This interdisciplinary minor engages students in examining interpersonal communication in order to understand communication processes and styles and the subtle ways cultural differences enhance or inhibit relationships. Courses in the minor explore both intrapersonal communication (internal mental and emotional processes that shape selection and interpretation of communication) and interpersonal communication (the process through which individuals interact, build relationships and create meaning). Students study conflict and ways in which it can be managed and transformed to enhance relationships. The influence and importance of understanding cultural differences and their impact on interpersonal communications is examined throughout the minor.

The minor would be of special interest to adults seeking to communicate more effectively with family members, friends and intimate partners. Courses in the minor feature highly interactive and experiential activities in the classroom and local community that integrate and apply communications theory to authentic personal relationships.

This minor provides substantive interdisciplinary focus on communication processes and systems that operate in organizations of all kinds and affect the performance of functional units and their employees with a vital impact on organizational outcomes, employee morale and teamwork. Research indicates that specific knowledge of internal and external communication processes is important for managers and employees at all levels. Courses in the minor draw upon theory and research from several social sciences with multiple practical applications to organizational communication and resource management.

Students choosing this minor will give sustained attention to the direct and indirect ways in which communication processes and social dynamics affect organizations and employee interaction. They will learn how to adapt communication approaches for colleagues, supervisors and interdependent work teams. This minor will have particular relevance for managers working in large and small organizations, including volunteer and non-profit groups, government agencies, law enforcement, social and health services, small businesses and large corporations. Students will gain greater understanding of organizational structures and communication processes and learn to be more effective as individuals, managers and members of work groups.

Students pursuing this minor must write one paper of six pages in length in each of the four courses. Each paper will fulfill a course assignment and also provide coherence by demonstrating how key constructs and processes of organizational communication apply to the content and processes of the specific course.

Note: This minor will be offered only in the evening schedule for CCE students.

Justice & Policy Studies at Guilford

The Department of Justice and Policy Studies offers two courses of study for students who wish to influence policy and support their communities through public service: community and justice studies and criminal justice.

In community and justice studies, students integrate scholarship from social theory with community engagement to investigate policies and strategies of public service organizations. An interdisciplinary approach allows students to work with other related academic departments and community groups to examine values in public policies, civic activism and strategies for changing organizations. Community problem-solving builds students’ individual and team communication skills while fostering critical thinking abilities. Students explore the processes for building community as a foundation for peaceful coexistence and responsive leadership.

Community and justice studies graduates have pursued graduate study and careers in urban affairs, public administration, law, social work, education and related vocations. Graduates also have undertaken careers in community organizing and in nonprofit community service organizations focusing on mediation and conflict resolution and other social issues.

The criminal justice major focuses on policies, history and problems of the American criminal justice system. Sociological, psychological and political-ideological thought are examined as students explore the questions of criminal justice policy and practice. Sociological jurisprudence and the legal system are considered as instruments of both stability and social change and the study of ethics, justice, discretion and organizational dynamics builds communication and critical thinking skills. This enables graduates to pursue careers in criminal justice fields such as law enforcement, corrections or juvenile justice as well as graduate studies in criminal justice, law, urban studies and public administration.

“There is a strong emphasis on advocacy and community activism. The professors encourage you to get involved in areas you want to see change”

- Sarah Demarest ’09

Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the Department of Justice and Policy Studies (JPS) at Guilford. Students become active participants in the greater community, putting theoretical concepts to work in real-world settings. There are several opportunities for students in the JPS program to test their knowledge and skills outside of the classroom.

Applied Courses

The community and justice studies major’s introductory course, JPS 103: Community Problem Solving, offers students a chance to become acquainted with the grassroots movements that mark Greensboro’s civil history. Fall ’11 and spring ’12 students had the chance to take a tour of Greensboro communities and historic sites dealing with issues of social justice. Highlights this semester included a guest appearance by Joseph McNeil, one of the “Greensboro Four” NCA&T students who began the sit-in movement ate the Greensboro Woolworth’s Department Store on February 1, 1960.

In JPS 350: Reclaiming Democracy students are encouraged to think about democracy on a personal level and explore ways in which they can put these thoughts into action. The class brings together community members, students and faculty instructors from colleges and universities across Greensboro. In this course students deal with two central questions: “How do we reclaim our democracy as a humane, inclusive process that is responsible to the needs of all members of our community?” “What does it require of us?” Students address these topics through research, discussion, interactive media and community projects.

Research Opportunities

For the past several years JPS majors have presented original research at the Guilford Undergraduate Symposium. Past research topics include:

participatory action research study on Greensboro resident’s perception of gangs and street organizations and the Beloved Community Center’s Paradigm Shift initiative to embrace the youth as a potential resource for peaceful, safe neighborhoods

participatory action research study on local police accountability

paper presentation from IDS 410 Power, Politics and Public Schools on significant issues impacting public education in Guilford County

Students have also presented their work at academic and community conferences beyond Guilford College. Recent opportunities include:

presentations of papers and projects by JPS faculty and students at the 19th Annual Conference on African-American Culture and Experience

presentation of participatory action research project on police accountability at the Lily Conference on College and University Teaching

These public presentations exemplify the practical liberal arts concepts central to the department’s mission. Through these opportunities, students integrate liberal arts, experiential learning and interdisciplinary knowledge to address real community issues.